The best songs transcend simple descriptions, arbitrary divisions of genre and even their original incarnations. That's why the South Austin Jug Band's treatment of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" sounds so right. There is also a responsibility on the part of the musician to honor the original essence of the tune, and, amazingly enough, the SAJB does that, too. From the crisp cuts of Matt Slusher's mandolin to the soulfully slow slides of Dennis Ludiker's fiddle -- plus the solid support of guitarists Willie Pipkin and James Hyland and bassist Will Dupuy -- this Texas-based outfit distills Hendrix into sweet, acoustic simplicity. Hailing from the same class as jamgrass upstarts Yonder Mountain String Band and crossover trio Nickel Creek, the SAJB embraces challenges such as bringing Hendrix to the hootenanny. This quintet nails its traditional bluegrass breakdowns, but its originals also sound authentically aged. That's a tall order, but the South Austin Jug Band makes it sound easy -- and with nary a jug in sight.
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